Jonathan Groff Alternate for Little Shop- Page 3

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/13/19 at 5:48am

It keeps us talking. Anticipating.

This is selling very well, I don't think that's a concern.

Its frustrating to a very small portion of people.

[ivy3]

Posted: 8/13/19 at 9:34am

Seymour - Jonathan Groff

Audrey - Tammy Blanchard

Orin Scrivello - Christian Borle

Mr. Mushnik - Tom Alan Robbins -  https://www.instagram.com/p/B1FMDM2ptwo

Ronette - Ari Groover - https://www.instagram.com/p/B1EotBwJW4-/

Chiffon - Joy Woods - https://www.instagram.com/p/B1Ex6aDHcF2/

Crystal - ?

Audrey II - ?

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 8/13/19 at 10:11am

DoTheDood said: "Is there any advantage for not releasing the whole cast yet, even as there are rehearsals happening? Like I would think the opposite would be better, as it gives people more time to get tickets. Not like this production of Little Shop needs it, but I can't think of any reason to keep this (nor The Inheritance) under wraps at this point."
 

There's no advantage to it. Different producers roll out casting differently. Some like to announce all at once, while others drip it out painfully for a cast of people that nobody cares it out (hey, Great Society and Pretty Woman).

A lot of casting announcements happen before actors have officially signed a contract, when there's a verbal agreement in place and final points are still being ironed out with the agent. Perhaps they're waiting til everyone is officially signed if they've been burned by that in the past? Inheritance still has 6+ weeks til the first preview, Little Shop has 5 weeks. I cannot imagine the casting for Inheritance would make a dent at the box office in the long run (unless they are sleeping on a "star" or semi-star), and Little Shop is already sold out.

Updated On: 8/13/19 at 10:11 AM

[darquegk]

Posted: 8/13/19 at 10:29am

It's a shame Cee-Lo Green has repeatedly rendered himself problematic; ever since hearing him in the Little Shop parody on American Dad I've wanted to hear him do Audrey II. He'd bring some of the wide vocal range Levi Stubbs gave the film version- the highs were VERY high and the lows were VERY low, as opposed to the Barry White sound most of the stage productions have gone for.

[Pose2]

Posted: 8/13/19 at 2:01pm

Little Shop is not sold out, plenty of seats left. 

[DoTheDood]

Posted: 8/13/19 at 2:27pm

Pose2 said: "Little Shop is not sold out, plenty of seats left."

Yes, if you either want premium seats (which some dates are sold out of that) or are fine with missing Groff. Every date besides those two weeks though are practically sold out. 

[Pose2]

Posted: 8/13/19 at 2:32pm

It's not sold out. That is what is stated. Which is untrue. Premium seats are still seats. Seats when he is not there are still seats. Again, plenty of seats still available folks. 

[EllieRose2]

Posted: 8/13/19 at 2:42pm

I have to agree with Pose2. I just booked two tickets for October with no issue. It's clearly not sold out. Fake news. 

[DoTheDood]

Posted: 8/15/19 at 7:10pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Please remember these are the same producers who, a full week into rehearsal, have still not announced the cast of THE INHERITANCE!"

So, while I doubt there will be the exact same amount of time between first rehearsal and full cast announcement as with The Inheritance, using that time frame, the full cast should be officially announced before the 21st. Still odd previews are a month away and we don't even know the plant.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 8/15/19 at 8:44pm

AEA AGMA SM said: "Valentina3 said: "Agh so many great possibilities. I won't even be in town but would love to see Brian D'Arcy James play the part."

Statements like this are why I'm glad many posters here do not work in casting. There is no world where a 51 year old actor is remotely appropriate for Seymour."

You mean you don't like when the same five actors and actresses are suggested for every single role, regardless of age or type?

[Kad]

Posted: 8/16/19 at 10:24am

I doubt they're actually going to get a "name" actor to cover for Groff's absence. 

[nasty_khakis]

Posted: 8/16/19 at 10:30am

Kad said: "I doubt they're actually going to get a "name" actor to cover for Groff's absence."

I feel the same, but I can also see it being someone's dream role and saying yeah I'm around for 3 weeks, why not? I'm not saying Gyllenhaal star level, but a Ben Platt or Noah Galvin name.

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 8/16/19 at 11:00am

nasty_khakis said: "Kad said: "I doubt they're actually going to get a "name" actor to cover for Groff's absence."

I feel the same, but I can also see it being someone's dream role and saying yeah I'm around for 3 weeks, why not? I'm not saying Gyllenhaal star level, but a Ben Platt or Noah Galvin name.

Ben Platt is a "name."

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 8/16/19 at 11:11am

REMAINING CAST:

Tom Alan Robbins (The Lion King, Head Over Heels) as Mushnik;Kingsley Leggs (Sister Act, The Color Purple) as The Voice of Audrey II; Ari Groover (Alice By Heart, Head Over Heels) as Ronnette; Salome Smith (The Wiz at Lyric Stage Co) as Crystal; and newcomer Joy Woods as Chiffon. Rounding out the cast are Stephen Berger, Chris Dwan, Kris Roberts, Chelsea Turbin, Eric Wright, and Teddy Yudain. 

[haterobics]

Posted: 8/16/19 at 11:13am

Also: "The box office at The Westside Theatre (407 West 43rd St., between 9th & 10th Aves.) will open at 12 PM EST on Monday, August 19, where 180 front-row tickets during previews will be exclusively available for purchase (limit six per person). The first 25 people in line will also receive something special to take home and feed at their own risk."

[RippedMan]

Posted: 8/16/19 at 11:37am

But do they say how much those front row tickets are

[Phillytheatreguy10]

Posted: 8/16/19 at 11:46am

I’d put money on the fact that Chris Dwan is probably Groff’s Understudy. He was charming in Enter Laughing- he’s a great fit for Seymour.

[Pose2]

Posted: 8/16/19 at 12:58pm

I just feel sorry for people in the front row. It's too close and Jonathan Gross spits a lot. I'm sure they will have someone special as his alternate since they did not announce it today. 

[cougarnewtin]

Posted: 8/16/19 at 1:11pm

Chris Dwan just confirmed he is Groff and Borles understudy. Not entirely sure if that means he will be Groffs alternate as well.

[haterobics]

Posted: 8/16/19 at 1:14pm

Pose2 said: "It's too close and Jonathan Gross spits a lot."

Or not close enough, for some.

[Phillytheatreguy10]

Posted: 8/16/19 at 1:17pm

Has it officially been expressed by the production he has an alternate at all- seems like it was only said here? He's only out a week, I can't imagine anyone coming in for that amount of time- stranger things have happened.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 8/16/19 at 1:23pm

Phillytheatreguy10 said: "Has it officially been expressed by the production he has an alternate at all- seems like it was only said here? He's only out a week, I can't imagine anyone coming in for that amount of time- stranger things have happened."

He's out for two weeks of performances, from 11/5 to 11/17. It has not been announced whether there will be another star brought in to cover that absence or if it will just be the regular understudy, but it's not out of the realm of possibility and has been done by other shows in the past for planned absences of this length. Hence the speculation here.

[Phillytheatreguy10]

Posted: 8/16/19 at 1:30pm

I understand that, but the title of the thread and some comments here make it sound definite. Though I wish he was, he's not a bigger name then Borle, I just can't imagine an Off Broadway production that is presumably selling well would spend the money on another actor when they have a Broadway name in it that would sell the show just as well, ie Borle. If those weeks aren't selling, it seems foolish that they wouldn't have announced it at the outset so the run was solidly sold. Again, stranger things, but this thread is speculative not absolute. 

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 8/16/19 at 2:18pm

Sorry but this isn't Liza covering for Gwen, people. For all the made-up hype about a two-week alternate, but unless they really want to make the bother, it seems to me Chris Dwan is going to cover the role throughout, and everyone that sees him will be well impressed. He's fabulous. 

[Phillytheatreguy10]

Posted: 8/16/19 at 2:57pm

^he’s such a star, I’d see it a second time just to see him! His holiday concert at 54 Below a few years ago was a blast and he was terrific in Enter Laughing!